Negative regulation of p53-induced senescence by N-WASP is crucial for DMBA/TPA-induced skin tumor formation

Hui Li, Simon Petersen, Alberto Garcia Mariscal, Cord Brakebusch

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Mice with a keratinocyte-restricted deletion of the actin polymerization-promoting molecule, N-WASP, display cyclic hair loss and skin inflammation. Here, we showed that these mice were also resistant to 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene (DMBA)/12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced skin tumor formation. This resistance correlated with decreased expression of the senescence regulator, DNMT1, and increased expression of the senescence marker, p16Ink4a, in N-WASP-deficient epidermis. Moreover, primary N-WASP-null keratinocytes displayed a premature senescence phenotype in vitro. Expression and activation of p53, a major inducer of senescence, was not significantly altered in N-WASP-null keratinocytes. However, impairment of p53 function effectively rescued the senescence phenotype, indicating that N-WASP was an inhibitor of p53-induced senescence. Mechanistically, N-WASP regulated senescence by preventing p53-dependent degradation of the H3K9 methyltransferases, G9a/GLP, and the DNA methyltransferase, DNMT1, which both control keratinocyte senescence. This pathway collaborated with other N-WASP-independent, senescence-promoting signaling downstream of p53 and allowed the fine tuning of p53- induced senescence by N-WASP. Collectively, these data reveal N-WASP as an inhibitor of p53-induced senescence, which might be of importance for skin tumor formation and cellular aging of keratinocytes. Significance: These findings demonstrate that N-WASP regulates p53-dependent senescence in keratinocytes in vitro and in vivo.

Original languageEnglish
JournalCancer Research
Volume79
Issue number9
Pages (from-to)2167-2181
Number of pages16
ISSN0008-5472
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2019

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